Common names: Strangler fig, Golden fig, Higuerón
Scientific name: Ficus aurea
Ficus aurea, commonly known as the Florida Strangler Fig, is a native fig species found in Florida, the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America. Like other strangler figs, it starts as an epiphyte (a plant growing on another tree) before eventually taking over its host and becoming a large, freestanding tree.
This species plays a vital ecological role in tropical and subtropical forests, providing food and shelter for wildlife while contributing to forest succession.
The bark is smooth and light gray, often covered in twisting, woody root structures. The aerial roots, once grounded, thicken and form new trunks, allowing the tree to spread. Leaves are broad, oval, and leathery, ranging from 2 to 5 inches (5 to 12 cm) long which have a glossy green upper surface and a slightly paler underside.
The tree starts life as a small seedling high in the canopy of a host tree, that sends down aerial roots that wrap around the host. Over time, the roots fuse and thicken, creating a complex network that can outcompete and kill the host tree. Eventually, the host tree decays, leaving behind a hollow column of strangler fig roots.
The tree produces no visible flowers. Instead, flowers are contained inside a hollow “fig”. Within the fig are minute male and female flowers, and unlike many fruiting trees, strangler figs do not rely on external pollination—instead, they have a unique relationship with fig wasps (Pegoscapus spp.). These wasps lay their eggs inside the fig, ensuring pollination while the larvae develop. The round figs turn from green to yellowish-orange when ripe.
Ficus aurea is a keystone species, meaning it has a disproportionately large impact on its ecosystem. The figs are a critical food source for birds, bats, monkeys, and insects, especially in dry seasons when few other fruits are available.